History Pool of Siloam

1 history

1.1 initial construction
1.2 second temple period
1.3 roman period
1.4 byzantine period

history
initial construction

the pool of siloam first built during reign of hezekiah (715–687/6 bce), provide water supply inside city protect siege. pool fed newly constructed siloam tunnel. prior this, gihon spring had emptied in large open basin @ source, before being conveyed city aqueduct. basin known upper pool (2 kings 18:17, isaiah 7:3). aqueduct vulnerable attackers, so, under threat assyrian king sennacherib, hezekiah sealed old outlet of gihon spring , upper pool, , built underground siloam tunnel in place of aqueduct (2 chronicles 32:2-4). during period pool of siloam therefore known lower pool (isaiah 22:9). seems during governorship of nehemiah (from 445 bce), pool known king s pool (nehemiah 2:14).

second temple period

the pool reconstructed no earlier reign of alexander jannaeus (103-76 bce), although not clear whether pool in same location hezekiah s pool — if so, traces of earlier construction have been destroyed. pool remained in use during time of jesus. according gospel of john, jesus sent man blind birth in order complete healing. freshwater reservoir, pool have been major gathering place ancient jews making religious pilgrimages city. scholars, influenced jesus commanding blind man wash in pool, suggest used mikvah (ritual bath),. however, mikvahs smaller in size, , if pool mikvah, largest ever found substantial margin. yoel elitzur has proposed pool used swimming rather ritual immersion.

the pool rediscovered ir david foundation workers, in autumn of 2004, during excavation work sewer. archaeologists eli shukron , ronny reich (working israel antiquities authority) accompanied ori orbach israel nature , parks authority uncovered stone steps, , became obvious these steps have been part of second temple period pool. excavations commenced , confirmed initial supposition; find formally announced on august 9, 2005, , received substantial international media attention. excavations revealed pool 225 feet wide, , steps existed on @ least 3 sides of pool. portion of pool remains unexcavated, land above owned nearby greek orthodox church , occupied orchard known king s garden (compare nehemiah 3:15). pool not rectangular, soft trapezoid. there 3 sets of 5 steps, 2 leading platform, before bottom reached, , has been suggested steps designed accommodate various water levels. pool stone-lined, underneath, there evidence of earlier version merely plastered (to retain water). coins reign of alexander jannaeus found embedded in plaster lining of pool, , therefore provide secure earliest date pool s (re-)construction.

the pool destroyed , covered after first jewish–roman war in year 70. dating indicated number of coins discovered on stones of patio near pool north, days of great revolt. latest coin dated 4 years day of great revolt , meaning year 69. in years following destruction, winter rains washed alluvium hills down valley , down slopes of mount zion west of pool; pool filled silt layers (up 4 m in places) until covered completely.

roman period

roman sources mention shrine of 4 nymphs (tetranymphon), nymphaeum built hadrian during construction of aelia capitolina in 135 , mentioned in byzantine works such 7th-century chronicon paschale; other nymphaea built hadrian, such @ sagalassos, similar. unlikely shrine built on site of second temple pool of siloam, may have been precursor byzantine reconstruction, below.

byzantine period

the byzantine pool of siloam



handcolored photo of site (c. 1865)



1730 map showing jerusalem pool of siloam on right

in 5th century, pool constructed @ end of siloam tunnel, @ behest of empress aelia eudocia. pool survives present day, surrounded on sides high stone wall arched entrance hezekiah s tunnel. pool around 70 yards second temple pool of siloam, , smaller. until discovery of second temple pool of siloam, pool wrongly thought pool described in new testament , second temple sources.